By Dr. Murtaza Ezzy

In recent years every second youngster in the age group of 16-35 years is suffering from neck pain and headache. Many panic immediately and the first thing that comes to their mind is either Cervical Spondylitis or Slip Disc; for headache always one thing comes to mind is Migraine.

After all sorts of investigation (X-ray, MRI) appearing normal, and then having opted for many kinds of treatment, pain relief is short lived, only to recur starting with heavyness in the neck and pain in the arms and all the previous symptoms start gradually.

Patients think that if it is neither Cervical Spondylitis nor Slip Disc, then…What is it?

WHY THE PAIN?

Every individual should understand that where there is pain, there is a cause for it. So it should be treated accordingly. In the present decade and future coming years almost every individual is dependant on electronic gadgets.

Earlier, adolescents and young people used to play games and other physical activities but today the youngster spends most of the time on Computers and on Mobile, either playing games, surfing on the net, watching movies, etc.

Hence, Physical activities have reduced and a sedentary life style has increased remarkably. Because of acquiring the wrong posture while on computer and on mobile for long durations our body joint alignment changes, especially in the neck and lower back. Besides this age group, specifically computer professionals who sit in front of computer for more than 10 hours a day are very likely to suffer this sort of pain.

Over use of gadgets leads to abnormal body posture and finally muscular weakness and tightness around the shoulder and neck region. Many a times the weakness and tightness is so chronic that there is possibly a lump or small nodes that develop in the covering of the muscles. Due to this reason the individual gradually feels heaviness in the shoulder then neck and finally the pain in Neck, which remains throughout the day and also while resting.

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM SUCH KIND OF PAIN NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING.

1. Maintaining an erect posture while working on computers.

2. Don’t sit in front of the computer for more than 20 mins at a time. Which means, that after every 20 minutes of working on the computer, a 30 sec to 1 min break needs to be taken, by moving around.

3. Do not use the Mobile in forward head down position.

4. Do not use the computer, mobile or watch TV in a sleeping position

5. Meet professionals (Ergonomic Advisor) or Physical Therapist for correction of spinal alignments in the Neck region.

6. Follow the Exercises as advised by the Physical Therapist.

*GADGETS AND HEADACHE PORTION WILL BE CONTINUED…

The writer is Dr. Murtaza Ezzy (MPT – Orthopedics and Sports Injury). He holds Super Speciality in Manual Therapy (Hands on Therapy).